Trolley-wire switch



UNITED 4 TA E 11.05 N. mono, or xmsas cm, urssonzar.

TBOLLEY -WIRE SWITCH. I

' Specificationof Letters Patent.

; PatentedNov. s, 1921.

Application filed September 29, .1919. Serial No. 327,193.

Todll whom tritium concern.

Beit known that I,M1nos N. Mutumo, a citizen of the United States, andresldent of Kansas City, county of Jackson, and State portions brokenaway;

of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inTrolley-\Vire Switches, of which the following is a completespecification.

The present invention relates to trolleyswitching devices and aims toprovide a convenient construction arranged for operation by a motormanwithin the car for switching the trolley, in the desireddirection atpoints where one or more branch trolley wires are located.

Accordingly I provide a suitable, mechanically operated switch device atthe branch point of the trolley wire, together with appropriateelectrical connectlons whereby the motorman may actuate said switchdevice in either direction accordin to the course to be followed by thecar an the trolley.

It is a so sought to devise asimple and efficient means of the characterdescribed, comprising as few parts as practicable and which are notlikely to get out of order.

With these general objects in view, the in vention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one suitableform of embodiment thereof, after which the novel features therein willbe set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a trolleyswitching construction embodying the present invention Flg. 2 is a planview on alarger scale w1th Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3, ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detailed view of the trolley member; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the switch-operating circuit.

Referring to the drawings in detail, these show a trolley wire 6electrically connected with branch trolley wires 7 and 8, on to eitherof which the trolley is adapted to be shunted by means of a switchelement 10, pivotally mounted for horizontal movement upon a verticalportion of the trolley wire 6, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The switch 10is held bysprings 12 normally in line with the trolley wire 6, and itslateral movement is restricted by means of stops 14 which are carried bythe supporting framework 16, which is of any suitable insulatingmaterial.

a The switch 10is operated in opposite directions by means ofelectromagnets 18. supported inany suitable manner, as by posts 20, at,OPPOSltB sides of the framework 16, said electromagnets beingoperablyconnect ed with the switch by rods 22. tromagnet 18 is locatedin acircuit which comprlses a grounded conductor 24 having a Eachelecportion 25 thereof extending parallel with the trolley wire 6 inposition for engagement by one of a pair of insulated contact rollers26, which are carried by the upper end of the trolley pole 28 atopposite sides of the trolley roller 30 which traverses the trolley wire6. For closing the circuit through said electromagnets 18, each contactroller 26 is provided with a conductor 31 having a switch 32communicating with the car circuit, which includes the motor 34, asillustrated in Fig. 5, from which it will be seen that eitherelectromagnet may be energized by closing the corresponding switch 32.he conductors 24 are spaced by insulating connections 27 from thetrolley wire, said conductors turning at the switch 10 and runningparallel to the branch trolley wires 7 and 8 respectively.

The switches 32 being designed for location in the car convenient to themotorman, it will be apparent that as the car approaches the branchtrolley wires 7 and 8, the contact rollers 26 will traverse the portions25 of the conductor 24 and the motorman may, by closing the properswitch 32, close the circuit through that electromagnet which will throwthe trolley switch 10 in the direction for shifting the trolley toeither of said trolley branches 7 or 8. The switch 10 is thrownlaterally against the corresponding stop 14 with which it remainsengaged until the trolley has (passed; whereupon said switch is returneto central position by its springs 12.

The trolley is maintained in proper engagement with the trolley wire bya pair of retaining fingers 36, which are swiveled upon the axle 38 ofthe roller 30, and on opposite sides thereof. Between the lower ends ofsaid fingersis mounted a swivel block 40, which isconnected by a rod 42to a pin 44, operating in a cam slot 46 provided intermediate the endsof the trolley pole 28. Said pin 44is also connected by a rod 48pivotally supported in the outer endof a horizontal block 49 at the baseof the trolley pole, this rod 48 being actuated by a spring 50 to holdthe trolley parts normally elevated. The arrangement of the retainingfingers 36, and their'rod connections, is also such that said fingersare maintained in upwardly projecting relation at the side of ther0ller30 for all positions of the trolley, and the roller is effectuallyprevented from becoming disengaged from contact with the trolley wire.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as constitutingthe preferred form of embodiment of theimprovement, I desire to reservethe right to make such formal changes or modifications as may fairlyfall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. The combination with a trolley wire having branchportions, of a switch associated with said branch portions and operableto shunt the trolley on to either of said branch portions, andelectromagnetic means com'prislng an electric circuit having a conductorarranged alongside the trolley wire,

a second conductor associated with the trolas the trolley approachessaid branch portions of the trolley wire, and a switch element operableby the trolley motorman to close the circuit through said conductors toactuate said trolley switch.

2. The combination with a trolley wire having branch portions, of aswitch associated with said branch portions and provided with a pair ofelectromagnets operable to swing said switch in opposite directions toshunt the trolley on to either of said branch portions, separateconductors associated with said electromagnets and arranged on oppositesides of the trolley wire, additional conductors associated with thetrolley and provided with separate insulated contact elements adaptedfor separate engagement with said first conductors as the trolleyapproaches said branch portions of the trolley wire, and separate switchelements operable by the trolley motorman for independently closing thecircuit through said electromagnets to actuate said trolley switch.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature.

' MILOS Na MIKULIC.

